REF4246, Steffy holding a timber after treatment (Photo: Susan Katzev). Correspondence to Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum. Over the next 17 years from 1987 the ship was transported on the decks of large merchant vessels across oceans and seas. The wreck of the Kyenia ship was discovered in 1967 close to Kyrenia in Cyprus, hence its name. It is said that these lead tablets are hammered onto a ship by pirates before scuttling it to curse the ship in order to protect themselves from their deeds. Katzev, M. 1974. Period. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Cyprus/Kyrenia Mountains and North Coast. The hull was preserved extensively, including all of the keel, more than half of the stem, and 22 strakes of outer planking. CrossRef The Kyrenia ship was built in hope and freedom and took part in a number of events all over the world. At the same time, almonds were being found outside amphoras, resting in masses within the hull. Furthermore, a New York and London, 2005. She proved her seaworthiness, with a remarkable ability to sail into the wind. Having lost the exact position Cariolou carried out more than 200 dives until he re-discovered the wreck in 1967 close to Kyrenia in Cyprus. Department of Archaeology and the History of Art, Ko University, Istanbul, Turkey, You can also search for this author in In a pincer movement the excavation teams now proceeded inward to uncover the remaining cargo within the wooden hull. REF4237, Kyrenia hull insitu (Photo: Susan Katzev). The wreck was very well preserved with approximately 75% of the ship still in good condition. length, has been preserved as it was safeguarded under a protective layer of - 166.62.80.165. Thus, the log of our merchant vessel might have told us of a trading ship sailing southward along the Anatolian coast, threading her way through the Dodecanese islands. Your email address will not be published. Matthew Harpster . REF4250, Steffy working on the lines drawing (Photo: Susan Katzev). Archaeological Context. Deutsch: The Kyrenia ship. Category. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. In addition, the fact that the spikes of spears were found stuck at the lower external part of vessels hull created the suspicion that it had sunk due to a pirate attack. 6), Nara, the old Japanese capital, for the Silk Road Exhibition, Seville for the World Fair, Hamburg for its 700 years commemoration and ten different Greek towns. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Nor did we know how far the ships small objects of wood or pottery had been thrown when the vessel jolted to its final resting place on the sea bottom. This was proven using the radiocarbon dating method which revealed that various parts of the ship had been built using wood of various ages. used to visit the port of Kyrenia regularly coming from the Aegean islands and even reaching the coasts of Syria and Palestine. 163173. Oxford University Press, 2007. The University Museums excavation of the wreck spanned two summers from 1968 to 1969 and recovered cargo, dining wares, tools, ships rigging, and even four bone eyelets from a sailors sandals. Important new technical details are revealed, and fresh insights concerning the economics of classical trading ventures can be gleaned from the chronology established for hull maintenance and repairs. Ten distinct amphora shapes on board suggest other ports of call, such as Samos in the north. The ship itself was remarkably well preserved alongside elements of the rigging, sail, ballast and an anchor. REF4235, Connecting the timbers (Photo: Susan Katzev). The average speed varied from 2 to 6 knots. The Kyrenia II sailed very well under different directions of wind and conditions of the sea. REF4242, Reconstructing the hull (Photo: Susan Katzev). Katzev, Susan Womer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. L. Katzev, .Michael"Kyrenia" Expedition Magazine 12.4 (1970): n. pag. 1970. In combination with the staff photographer, Hale recorded and plotted to an accuracy of0.02 meters the wooden hull asit was uncovered. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51726-1_3151-2, Reference Module Humanities and Social Sciences. W KYRENIA current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. How many years did our ship sail before her destruction? In Cyprus and the sea, ed. However, he lost the position and it took him a further two hundred plus dives to find it again in 1967. D. Blackman, 141179. It is important to note that, 75% of the ship, that measures 15 metres in The Kyrenia ship, a Greek merchantman built around 315 BC and sunk off the north coast of Cyprus 294-291 BC, was excavated between 1967 and 1972 under the direction of Michael Katzev. General consensus is that the ship had been away trading and was returning to Kyrenia either because this was its home port or in order to carry on trading and may have sunk due to its age and being hit by a storm. the early 4th century B.C. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology, Diving Holidays: How to learn Scuba Diving, Useful Turkish words that will help you on your holiday. All these bits of evidence suggest that the ship sailed southwards along the coast of. used to visit the port of Kyrenia regularly coming from the Aegean islands and even reaching the coasts of Syria and Palestine. A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America. No combination of lifting equipment could be found on the island to manage transfer of a ten-ton load from quayside up over the eighty-foot castle wall. A curse tablet was also found on the wreckage. Free shipping for Next the mast step complex and keel were lifted, and finally the outer planks were cut into manageable lengths and raised. After conservation and reassembly, the hull of the Kyrenia ship is now on display in the Kyrenia Crusader Castle on Cyprus. However, most believe that the ship sank after its cargo was dsplaced during a sea storm. A break in the ships keel had been fixed, and the hull was protected with pitch and a skin of lead sheathing, added towards the end of her life.At the time the ship sank, more than 400 wine amphorae, mostly made in Rhodes, constituted its main cargo. Ninety-six amphoras whole and fragmentary were excavated, bringing the ships total to 403 lifted in the two campaigns. Sea and the few parts of them studied have yielded valuable, but yet, incomplete From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. recovered in the bow area, possibly belonging to the crew, and consisting of Since the finds point to an interesting and rarely-illustrated aspect of Mediterranean history, it was felt that the public should not be denied some view of the material. date. Already many of the archaeologists, students, photographers, and technicians in the creweventually to number over fortyhad assembled, and full-scale diving operations began. The ship, called Kyrenia II was finally launched in June 1984. Most of the amphoras were Rhodian in origin and date to the final third of the 4thcentury B.C. Early in the season small fragments of thin lead sheets with bronze tacks were also found, and later, larger sheets were uncovered, indicating that the Greek ship had been covered in a sheathing of lead to protect its hull against marine life. Required fields are marked *. English: The Kyrenia ship. The sinking of the Kyrenia could have been caused by many factors, but evidence suggests that piracy and old age contributed to the ships fate. and is the oldest Greek vessel ever discovered. Adding weight to this supposition are three new oil jugs (gutti), combining with the single example from 1968 to total four, and four small echinus bowls or salt dishes. Another part of the cargo comprised 9000 almonds in jars. London: Archon Books. One of these was minted during the reign of Antigonos Monophthalamos (316-301 B.C. The archaeology, led by the late Michael Katzev and now being completed by Susan Katzev, showed that sometime around 306 B.C., the ship, with a four-person crew from Rhodes, was overcome and sank in what seems to have been a pirate attack that left eight iron spear points embedded in the hull. In such a gale the sailors would have first thrown out anchors, hoping to ride out the sea. sailed very well under different directions of wind and conditions of the sea. Then, as the cargo shifted, captain and crew would have realized the fate of their vessel. The Kyrenia ship was a small Greek merchantman which sank off the north coast of Cyprus late in the fourth century B. C. Its timbers have been reconstructed in Kyrenia, Cyprus, where it is displayed along with cargo and artifacts from the wreck. Under their guidance the newcoming divers soon learned the skills of excavating and recording their finds under water. It is hoped that in the future a more complete story of the excavation may be assembled in these quarters to complement exhibition of the preserved ship in its own gallery across the castle courtyard. The Kyrenia shipwreck was first discovered in 1965 by town councilman Andreas Cariolou. 331340. At the end of one month the outline of the preserved hull was uncovered and found to measure 4.8 x 11.4 meters. Category:Kyrenia shipwreck. This was achieved at the Manolis Psaros boatyard in Piraeus Greece . Kyrenia II is often used as a floating ambassador of Cypriot culture, and has visited many parts of the world. In 1986, it visited New York City; in 1988, Japan; and in 1989, West Germany . Springer, Cham. National Geographic Society Research Reports 13, pp. Just wanted to tell you keep up the fantastic work! REF4248, Steffy reconstructing the hull (Photo: Susan Katzev). Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology pp 15Cite as, 3 The Kyrenia Ship: An Interim Report on Its Hull Construction | American Journal of Archaeology: Vol 89, No 1 Skip to main content Search Search The reconstructed hull was 14 m in length and 4.2 m in beam. The ship is a really well preserved example of its type with 75% of it still intact. Google Scholar. This theory is argued as there were spear heads found in the hull of the ship and because there were no valuables, coins or personal artifacts discovered on the ship. There are no submerged reefs or treacherous capes in sight. The excavation and recovery of the well-preserved remains of this late-fourth-century B.C. It is now exhibited in the Ancient Shipwreck Museum in Kyrenia Castle where it remains on exhibit.The sinking of the Kyrenia could have been caused by many factors, but evidence suggests that piracy and old age contributed to the ships fate. Hello! discovered. REF4232, Michael Katzev and J. Richard Steffy working on the lines drawing (Photo: Susan Katzev). Copyright 2023 - Kyrenia / Designed & Developed by NETinfo Plc No images, text or other material whatsoever from this website may be copied, published, re-produced or otherwise used without the written permission of yrenia unicipality. Parts of four wooden spoons and a lathe-turned wooden bowl in fragmentary condition complete the dining utensils. Greek merchant vessel off the coast of Cyprus has yielded substantial information on the construction of classical Greek boats, often seen depicted in paintings on ancient ceramics. Cyprus/Kyrenia Mountains and North Coast. The ship was in use by merchants for 1525 years. Knowing that the ship was old, archaeologists could use the repairs on the Kyrenia to better understand classical carpentry. The hull's age increased the need for the defense against water loss, so any repairs would give very specific evidence to the problems facing ancient ships. Please note that by using this site you are consenting to the use of cookies. Katzev, M. 1990. For the absence of any cache of precious coins, personal possessions, or skeletal remains suggests the crew did have time to gather up its belongingsand the captain to retrieve his earnings from the voyage. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 177184. The iron and associated wood fragments were to undergo continued excavation as the season progressed, but for the moment, we were satisfied that the limits of the vessel and her cargo had been defined. As years went by, the residents of the Achaean Coasts built villages, cities and their history with their own sweat and blood, while during turbulent times they had to help Digenes defeat Charon, they escorted Regaena to her castles and enjoyed the results of their achievements and labour among the scents of the lemon trees and the carob trees. 286-99. Once the ship had been completely cleared of its contents, it was seen to be remarkably intact. All these bits of evidence suggest that the ship sailed southwards along the coast of Anatolia calling at Samos, Kos and Rhodes before continuing eastwards to her destruction in Cyprus. Altmetric. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Katzev, M., and S. Katzev. Green, J. In around 288 B.C. The Kyrenians, just like all other Cypriots, would gain their freedom even after centuries of slavery by not losing their faith in God and their will. courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Kingwood Texas! Carbon 14 dating of the ships planking and also of its cargo suggests that the ship was about 80 years old when she sank. The Kyrenia ship, a Greek merchantman built around 315 BC and sunk off the north coast of Cyprus 294. size=2>291 BC, was excavated between 1967 and 1972 under the direction of During 1985-6 she underwent sea trials and then undertook two experimental sea voyages from Piraeus to Cyprus and back in 1987. By the end of May the diving barge was reanchored over the wreck, and the site cleared of the sand and plastic sheets which had been laid over it as winter protection at the end of the 1968 excavation. Lastly, the thought that over the winter clandestine sport divers might find the timbers tempting as relics or treasure made our decision incontestable: to undertake the hull-raising immediately. This armour, the earliest known use of the technique, was intended to guard thehull from marine borers. Grid 4B (gap, under hull) The ship is approximately 47 feet in length and 15 feet wide. The remaining hull was raised, conserved and reconstructed. We followed the procedure of the past year, diving in teams of two to six and spending forty minutes working time on the bottom each morning and thirty minutes in the afternoon. In the winter of 1967 a The remaining portion exposed after his departure in late August was then plotted with a system of pointing rods. Sailing with him were at least three other crew members, perhaps some of them with vested interests in the cargo. Penn Museum, 1970 Web. 18 Jan 2023 , 3260 South Street The ancient Greeks passed the Greek culture and civilization down to the entire world. REF4241, Steffy installing the timbers after treatment (Photo: Susan Katzev). The ship sailed in the Mediterranean during the lifetime of Alexander the Great and his successors. The Kyrenia shipwreck (Kbrs gemisi) museum is located inside Kyrenia Castle. Incidentally, this last was generously suggested by the Antiquities Department of Cyprus but gratefully declined by the expedition. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. With the original packing of mud removed, increasing amounts of oxygen were reaching the ancient hull. Kyrenia Castle. The Kyrenia shipwreck was first discovered in 1965 by town councilman Andreas Cariolou. The surviving internal structure included ceiling, cross-beams, and a mast step. Steffy, J.R. 1985. almonds, the bronze coins and the radio carbon dating on the hull indicated that The ship's single sail had been taken down before she sank as the stern contained more than 100 lead rigging rings from a large square sail stowed there. Michael Katzev of the American The Kyrenia ship was built in the early 4 th century B.C. Diver recovering amphora at the shipwreck. Its star attraction, the Kyrenia shipwreck, is a 4th century B.C Greek merchant ship and is the oldest example of a Greek ship to be discovered. Visitors to Kyrenia Castle, most of them Cypriotes, had expressed interest to see the objects from the excavation. Vessel W KYRENIA is a Container Ship, Registered in Marshall Is. Period. In early summer the expedition storeroom at the castle was made ready for use by our conservator. Institute of Nautical Archaeology subsequently excavated it. Kyrenia Shipwreck Excavation. 27 stones for hopper-type grain mills had been stacked in three rows along the axis of the ship to serve as ballast. The survey and excavation of the site was directed by Michael Katzev between 1967 and 1969. The heritage of ancient harbour engineering in Cyprus, the Levant. H. Tzalas, 245256. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Here the outer planking is in two layers joined with thick wooden dowels. Scattered throughout the stern area were over 100 flat lead rings which probably served in guiding the brail lines used to reef the ships sail. To the projects additional sponsors: the Cook Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Cyprus Mines Corporation, Oberlin College, and the Houghton-Carpenter Foundation, we wish to extend our thanks. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51726-1_3151-2, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51726-1_3151-2, eBook Packages: Springer Reference HistoryReference Module Humanities and Social Sciences, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51726-1_3151-1, Over 10 million scientific documents at your fingertips, Not logged in The wood then went into one large fresh-water bath. Once he had pinpointed its location he notified the relevant authorities and Michael Katzev from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology was called in to lead the salvage recovery of the ship. Also, a sailing replica of the ship, launched in 1985 and christened Kyrenia II, was a successful application of experimental archaeology. During 1985 Turkish invasion this magnificent testimony of ancient shipbuilding is presently best-preserved ship of the Classical period of Greek civilisation ever found to Interesting also is the regular alternation of ribs: one type spans the keel and in a second piece presumably runs the full height to the gunwhale, while its neighbor originates just short of the keel and terminates well above the bilge line. The "Kyrenia II" ship REF4251, Timbers coming out of PEG treatment (Photo: Susan Katzev). Expedition Magazine. During the summer of 1969 the expedition to Kyrenia completed excavation of the Greek ship, accomplishing what had been projected as two seasons of diving in one expanded campaign As a unique, handmade object approximately 14 m long built over two millennia ago, this wooden hull is exceptional, and it and its replicas have become emblematic of seafaring in the Mediterranean Sea during the Hellenistic era. 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